Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[Harbour Dog]

Laf got $7+ after a season in which he played higher in the lineup, with a star player, and recorded 0.695 ppg (though he also had a very good playoffs).

Kakko is playing less but recording 0.647 ppg right now. He has more assists less goals projected than Laf did, but.... he could get more than you'd expect.

Plus, Kakko is only on the ice for a goal against every blue moon.

 

[will1066]

Kakko is much more on top of the puck compared to the past, because he was a half step out of sync and trailing the play. He used to go shifts with minimal to zero touches of the puck.

 

[haohmaru]

Kakko is a valuable player to ANY team in the NHL.

The "2OA" thing is like an anchor tied to his skates. The sooner you forget where he was chosen the more you can look at him like you should - a solid, young, NHL player with (still) a good deal of upside.

 

[Gluten Free Breadman]

He looks faster this year. Decision making and skating.

 

[noncents]

He looks faster this year. Decision making and skating.

it's amazing what the human brain is capable of. this is the same player - the same skillset, the same footspeed, the same processor - as the guy who this board absolutely f***ing skewered while on the 93/20 wing last year. the same guy.

then he had a knee injury and didn't look the same the rest of the year. but still guys threw the stats at me: G%, Ppg, yadda yadda. "HE CANT SCORE" they jeered. "TRADE HIM FOR NOTHING" they demanded.


you know what changed? deployment and puck luck. A few bounces here, a linemate who actually wants to forecheck. cycle, and go to the net, and voila. "hE lOoKs CoMpLeTeLy DiFfErEnT!!"

nah. you just refused to see the player instead of the results, in a sport dominated by chaos.

 

[Fitzy]

It's just the 'other' season in his cycle of being good one season and atrocious the next. It's been that way since he got here. We're in an even numbered year- Kakko is doing well.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Kakkos been his usual self. So long as he's not playing with literal dumpster fire linemates--like Bonino, B.Smith(!), or, frankly, since last year, Mika--hes a dependable two way presence with decent, if a bit underwhelming scoring touch.

I don't think I've seen anything great yet this year, but one thing is that Kakko has never really gotten on a roll and left to cook. Pretty much since day one here.

I just want to see that line stay together, get more ice time, and then maybe by years end some might have to recast their projections on this kid.

 

[Draft Guru]

Can't wait for this kid to get a huge confidence boost playing for Finland at the 4 Nations in February.

 

[JimmyG89]

Can't wait for this kid to get a huge confidence boost playing for Finland at the 4 Nations in February.

He has a shot at top 6 minutes on the wing. Best on best experience like that could be immeasurable on what it could do for him.

 

[TominNC]

Trade Mika keep Kakko

You can't trade Mika. Mika as a NMC he signed not that long ago. Why would he move?

 

[eco's bones]

His thing now is to stay healthy. He's on a line with guys he works well with. With Lafreniere moving up with Panarin....Cuylle looks like an even more complimentary player for both Kakko and Chytil. Just that rugged straight ahead physical game and Cuylle can hang with them as a player too.

 

[Draft Guru]

He has a shot at top 6 minutes on the wing. Best on best experience like that could be immeasurable on what it could do for him.

He becomes Superman any time he puts on that Suomi jersey